Parents of fifth graders (or fourth, or sixth....) please help:
1. I have to organize a game for my daughter's class to play during their holiday party on Friday. There are 32 kids and -- here's the catch -- it's in the classroom so outdoor/running/relay games etc. are totally out. Can't move desks etc. either; this is one crowded classroom. I have the option of either doing an all-class game involving all 32 kids, or breaking them into smaller groups to play something in rotations. Ideas? I know kids this age still love bingo so I've thought of that. Any other ideas are welcome!
2. My daughter has a Secret Santa gift to buy for a girl her age (10, fifth grade) at her dance studio. She doesn't know the girl well at all and was able to ask a friend of the girl who said she likes the color blue and music. That doesn't help much since "music" could mean any of a hundred styles of music! Any ideas of a gift that costs maybe $10-$20? I'm ruliing out ITunes gift cards since I have no idea if the girl even uses a computer at home for music or has an IPod or whatever. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks, everyone! We probably are going with Bingo and I found a web site where I can make custom, free bingo cards and am using the teacher's last name (it's only five letters) instead of the word Bingo. I can even insert words in some squares so I can put in references to things the class has done, class jokes, etc.
I love the fuzzy sock cupcake idea. That is a must! Thanks!
At our daughters elementary school the kids loved Bingo and Bunco..
The teachers had small prizes they would award..
Easy to do with large group of children sitting at desks.
For the Secret Santa.. Hair accessories, cute socks, cute gloves, a gift card to a local ice cream shop, movie tickets, we love the game "Bananagrams". the "Question Ball"
This is a cute idea for fuzzy socks:
http://thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com/2010/03/recip...
You could do this with some blue socks and get a gift card to some place - personally I think a gift card to a cupcake store or an ice cream shop would be super cute with this! Use a hole puncher and punch through the card - attach to the ribbon around the top! Cute, creative and CHEAP!
2. blue mp3 player. my 9 yr old wants one that is about $20
I'm assuming that the class is for the 10 year olds as well? I would break them into smaller groups (maybe 4) and rotate stations, assuming you have enough parent volunteers to man each rotation. Bringo sounds fine. I would also do one where you split the rotation group into two lines and have them do a gift-wrapping relay. You have an empty un-assembled box, and wrapping supplies. So the first person in each line has to assemble the box and tape it up. The next person has to wrap it in paper, the next ties a ribbon around it, next puts a bow, etc. The first line to finish wrapping wins.
Kids also love games like cotton ball in spoon races (also done in lines) or something where you have to tape cotton balls to someone's face to create a Santa beard (also done in lines- I love the line races, and the kids also love that). Hope that's a start. These should be able to be done without moving desks around. Things like bingo are great, but too much of those or too long they start to get restlesss. Oh, you could also just have a cookie or ornament decorating rotation- endless possibilities of crafts and snacks there.
For the gift- I know those hats that come down a bit on the sides with ropes hanging off each side are very trendy right now. Even ones with little animal faces. Go to any Target or Kohls or whatever and you'll see a bunch, easy enough to find a blue one. I'll bet the kid has an iPod, or at least a family computer, so I would think iTunes are a safe bet. Even without an iPod, you can listen to the music on a computer. And I'd guess if the family can afford to send her to dance they have at least a computer if not an iPod for her. Otherwise some cute and fuzzy slippers. Or maybe a tote bag that she can keep her dance stuff in? Do you have a Justice store by you? It is tween central, and has everything that age likes. If you don't, look at their website www.shopjustice.com for ideas. Oh- how about blue nail polish?
Good luck!
